Camargue Regional Nature Park
Arles, France
Black bulls, white horses, and pink flamingos are the standout sights in Camargue Regional Nature Park, a rugged marshland between the Rhône Delta and the Mediterranean. Wildlife aside, the coastal scenery here is unique—salt flats, rice fields, canals, and bull ranches form its backdrop. You can explore on foot, bike or horseback, or on a Jeep tour.
Camargue Regional Nature Park is an easy day trip from Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Marseille. Typical itineraries include visits to pretty towns such as Aigues-Mortes or Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and a Provence lavender farm, plus time for birdwatching, photography, or walking in the reserve. To immerse yourself in nature, opt for an off-road 4x4 tour, horseback ride, bike tour, or a cruise or kayak excursion along the Petit Rhône River.
You can dedicate a day to Camargue or spend up to a week exploring and beach basking.
This marshland area is well-known for its mosquitos. Apply your bug spray liberally, especially in the summer.
Stick to the trails when hiking in the Camargue and remember to take your trash home; there aren’t many bins around.
Camargue Regional Nature Park is on the south coast of France, just south of Arles and halfway between Montpellier and Marseille. The nearest international airport is Nice, along with smaller regional airports at Nîmes and Marseille. A popular route for car-free visitors is a train to the town of Aigues Mortes, where there are tourist boats offering day trips or bike hire shops from where you can cycle along the Le Grau-du-Roi.
The park is open year-round but is most popular between March and October when the jeu tarin (non-violent bullfighting) season takes place. Mosquitos can be a pain in this wetland area, so aim to hike early in the morning and bring bug spray. You’ll see the most birdlife in spring or fall. However, if you visit during hunting season (September to mid-January), you shouldn’t venture into the park before 9:30am.
Stroll along the wooden walkways of the Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau, where a varied selection of marshland birds like to hang out. You can often see flamingos, pelicans, egrets, and stilts, and there’s a handy snack kiosk near the entrance for when you’re feeling weary. Bonus: This area of the park is also entirely accessible, meaning wheelchair users and families with strollers can explore with ease.
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